Boley 15mm collets

[vic neweyParticipant @vicnewey60017]

Is anyone familiar with these ? my vintage lathe came with quite a few 15mm shank collets stamped Boley.

I need to clean the threads and possibly make a new drawbar so looking for a tap & die to suit the thread. I need to be absolutely sure of the thread size and pitch which appears to be 1mm before I look to purchase. Can anyone advise?

[vic neweyParticipant @vicnewey60017]

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

Reply deleted when I realised you have 15mm collets, not 8mm ones

John

Edited By John Hinkley on 24/06/2022 16:20:06

[egaParticipant @ega]

This is not my field but, knowing that Tubal Cain's Handbook has a section on this, I looked it up and was baffled not to be able to see a Boley collet with 15mm shank listed. He does list a collet whose "MAXIMUM" DIA is 15mm and 1mm pitch thread, however, which I suppose may be functionally similar to yours.

Edited By ega on 24/06/2022 17:13:34

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

Tracy Tools sell a M15 x 1 pitch tap and die if that helps.

David

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Is this any help, vic ?

**LINK**

https://www.furniturenmarkt.de/Spannzangen-BOLEY

… aside from making you feel fortunate.

MichaelG.

[vic neweyParticipant @vicnewey60017]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 24/06/2022 20:57:45:

Is this any help, vic ?

**LINK**

https://www.furniturenmarkt.de/Spannzangen-BOLEY

… aside from making you feel fortunate.

———————————————–

Thanks for all replies

MichaelG.

I think that is definitely of help as it gives it as a 13 X 1mm thread. I also got included a smaller number of 15mm Crawford collets and although the thread is still 1mm they don't screw in properly in the drawbar without jamming after 2 turns so there must be a slight variation to the cut of the threads

Buying a tap and die is a bit risky as it's unlikely to fit both but it's the Boley ones I'm more interested in.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Surely you can measure the diameter of the thread on your collets and confirm it's 13mm?

[vic neweyParticipant @vicnewey60017]

Posted by Hopper on 25/06/2022 00:27:02:

Surely you can measure the diameter of the thread on your collets and confirm it's 13mm?

———————–

I can indeed but it's more to do with a slight variation in the cut of the thread, as I already mentioned above I have 2 types, Crawford & Boley, both 15mm shank and 13mm thread but the threads are not quite the same and don't all fit the drawbar, hence my problem in buying a modern tap & die for collets that are possibly as old as the lathe (1895)

Likewise I have a 1939 dated South Bend lathe that accepts Boxford parts, I sent for a Boxford faceplate that has the correct size bore and 8tpi thread only to find it won't screw fully on because in 1940 they made a slight alteration to the angle of the thread even though the dimensions are listed as the same.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Ah, well, the Boxford/Sarf Bend nose thread dichotomy is well known. Usual fix is a tap from Tracy Tools of the relevant UN or BS form, depending on which way you are swinging to clean up the female thread flanks to the relevant standard.

Boley though, being German is most likely Metric thread with 60 degree thread form.

But Crawford, being British, are most likely some BS 55-degree thread form if they are older. Maybe even 1/2" x 26tpi which is pretty close and might screw on for a thread or two or vice versa with the Boley Metric thread. (1mm pitch = 25.4 TPI. 1/2" = 12.7mm) Careful measurment and inspection might show which it is.

Of if the Crawfords are newer, could even be metric too. Rotagrip still sell Crawford collets etc so might be able to help you there.

To add to the complication, some collets have left hand threads, which might start to feel like they are screwing into a right but then bind up pretty much straight away, depending on the relevant sizes.

So one tap/die set to do both may not be do-able. But they only cost a tenner or so.

 

Edited By Hopper on 25/06/2022 11:15:55

Edited By Hopper on 25/06/2022 11:16:44

[vic neweyParticipant @vicnewey60017]

The lathe in question is German, a Pittler C3, the Crawfords are imperial sizes but the Boleys are metric.

I also got included five of these large Crawford step collets but no closer to fit my lathe mandrel. The closer I got with it was pointed out by the seller as not correct for the lathe but was probably for a Hardinge lathe lathe thread

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